Tennessee Law: Plain-English Guides

Key Tennessee facts

Security deposit deadline

No fixed number of days for returning the deposit. In URLTA counties, if the tenant leaves owing no rent and is due a refund, the landlord must send notice of the refund amount to the tenant's last known or reasonably… T.C.A. 66-28-301(b)(1)(A), (f)

Eviction notice for unpaid rent

14 days. URLTA counties: written notice that the lease will end unless the rent is paid within 14 days after the tenant receives the notice. T.C.A. 66-28-505(a)(2), (b); 66-28-201(c); 66-7-109(a)

Small claims limit

$25,000 for civil cases in general sessions court, not counting attorney fees, court costs and discretionary costs. T.C.A. 16-15-501(d)

Small estate affidavit

Tennessee no longer uses a small estate affidavit; it uses a 'Small Estate Probate' procedure with limited letters. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 30-4-101 to 30-4-105 (esp. § 30-4-102, § 30-4-103)

Cost of a protective order

Victims cannot be charged any court costs, filing fees, litigation taxes, or service or other costs to file, issue, serve, dismiss, appeal or enforce an order of protection. Tenn. Code Ann. § 36-3-617(a)

Minimum wage

Tennessee has no state minimum wage law. Employers covered by federal law must pay the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour. Fair Labor Standards Act (federal minimum wage)

Final paycheck if fired

All wages must be paid by the next regular payday after the firing, or 21 days after the firing, whichever comes later. Tenn. Code Ann. § 50-2-103(g)

Time limit to sue on a debt

6 years for actions on contracts not otherwise provided for. The same period applies to written and oral contracts. T.C.A. 28-3-109(a)(3)